World Wide Helicopters
 

Does anyone have any pictures they care to share about World Wide Helicopters during their base operations at Biggin Hill or elsewhere in the world. I flew for them in the 1963/64 era and spent a good deal of time on the North Sea project for Shell as well as in Libya. I would very much like to hear from any of the old crew members as well. Many thanks to everyone out there. It was great to meet some of you at the Las Vegas HAI.

I flew for World Wide on their last contract in Sharjah, UAE for a short period in 1977/78. I'll see if I can find some phots.

Regards, Chris H

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W...ewart%2529.jpg
World Wide Helicopters S58-F N871 as seen at Ameland in the Netherlands on 15th June 1963 (Photo: Ed Stewart)

Engaged in ditching practice in preparation for geophysical survey operations over the North Sea.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-O...inson%2529.jpg
N871 as seen at Biggin Hill in the mid-60's (Photo: Ken Wilkinson)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r...inson%2529.jpg
N885 as seen at Biggin Hill in the mid-60's (Photo: Ken Wilkinson)

I flew for a company named World Wide Helicopters who operated mostly American registered helicopters and a few fixed wing aircraft out of Biggin Hill. The year would have been 1962. When I was with them we had Sikorsky S-58's, Bell 47's and a few fixed wing. I stayed at a pub called the Fox and Hounds.....fabulous. The flight crews were a mix of British, Dutch and Australian and I think I was about the only American. I have tried to run down some of the old crew members to no avail. I have a photo of a Beech parked on the ramp at their hangar but I do not know how to upload it. On another matter I also flew A-26 N3710G a good deal in the US which some years later you will recall crashed at Biggin Hill Sept 21, 1980 tragically killing everyone on board.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9...chols%2529.jpg
World Wide Helicopters Beechcraft TC-45J Tri-Expeditor N8181H as seen as Biggin Hill on 4th February 1964 (Photo: Brian Nichols)

Thanks
 

Chris
Thanks for the information. Do you recall an engineer named Metcalf? He was with me on the North Sea project and I ran into him elsewhere in the world after I left World Wide.

I have a few pictures of the North Sea operation and a picture of a Conrad 10-2 that World Wide sent to us in Libya but that is about all I have in the way of airplane pics.

Regards...ed

A few names come to mind, Frank Minjoy, Dick Saker, Chris ? ( locked up in Iran), Ken Cos, can't remember the others.:confused:

There was a derelict S58T in Madras as World Wide hadn't paid fees to the Indians. It was basically in good nick with flat tyres & a resident cobra!:ok:

Sorry, Metcalf doesn't ring a bell with me.
How about Frits Hasselman, Stan Franklin, John Turner, Chris van Riet? - all World Wide and then involved with Abu Dhabi Helicopters (as it was originally named before becoming Abu Dhabi Aviation).

Chris and Frits (Chief Pilot of ADH) were both Dutch and now both deceased.
Stan was the GM of ADH and now lives in Gloucestershire in England. I've lost touch with John.

I was hoping to attach some photos but apparently I’m not allowed to! Don’t have time to resolve that just now so you’ll have to imagine a Jetranger on bags in an oilfield in the Arabian Gulf. This was the last World Wide aircraft on the last World Wide contract - for Crescent Petroleum based in Sharjah, UAE in late 1977.

If you need photo hosting I'll be glad to assist.

Simply email your photos to: [email protected]

Please include your PPRuNe name with your email so that I may attribute the photos to you.

Thanks to Savoia for helping with the following:

The last World Wide aircraft in the Cresent Petroleum field off Sharjah, UAE in 1977:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S...+JR+1977+2.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...+JR+1977+1.jpg

Mmmm ...

By 1980 ... Aerogulf Services Dubai had that contract !!

I worked for World Wide in 74/75 in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi on their two Bell 206’s then as an unlicenced mech. I did take quite a few pictures but they are not scanned to digital format. Most of the work I remember was to the rig Rowan Texas. The helideck ‘boy’ opening the 206 doors was on three times my pay, which kicked me into action about getting licenced up and on better pay.
My time with World Wide did not last long. I do remember pilot Tom Loosemore (spelling), later killed when with the newly formed ADA, when the main rotor brake quill of his B212 departed the main transmission.
My time with World Wide finished after a ride in a drunken car from Pauling’s (the roads were mainly rough tracks then, with only a few good ones). In the car with me was an engineer from Bournemouth, Mike Coleman. We had an overnight in the women’s part of an old prison. It was a rough night with rats squeaking in the walls, blanket that would not unfold and a vitamin tablet for breakfast.

edited to add 'brake'

I Feel Old
 

You guys are making me feel VERY old. I started with World Wide in 1962 and did a summer with the S-58's off the North Sea in Holland followed by Beavers and Bell 47's in Libya. The Ameland crew consisted of mechanic Ken Metcalf, UK; Bob Bishop, UK, Tony Biddle, UK, Pilots George Strolenberg, NL; Ted Von Capelle, NL; John Wood, UK; George Cummings, CDN. When in Libya we received a Conrad 10-2 (converted Beech) that I am uncertain as to who took the picture but I think it is at Biggin Hill awaiting transfer to Libya. Fortunately I didn't fly it because almost every flight it came back with a landing gear problem. I recently made contact with the grandson of Arni Sumarlideson who lives in the DC area but he doesn't know anything about the company or any of the crew. The old corporation is still in business as a real estate holding company in the Caribbean.

Frank Minjoy
 

I remember Frank Minjoy and Frits Hasselman but I do not remember in what context.

When I last heard of World Wide they were doing very well as a real estate operation in the Caymans. Probably a better deal than any helicopter operation.

Frank the Merciless Ming was either a chief pilot or manager in this part of the world & very experienced on the S58. After that he became the general manager of Helicopter Utilities in Sydney.

Australians in Libya
 

The general manager in Benghazi in 1963 was an Australian who had his wife and son there with him. The chief pilot there was also Australian but was only experienced on fixed wing aircraft (I happened to fly both helicopter and fixed wing there). There were also a couple of aircraft engineers there who were Australian. I dearly wish I could recall any names because it would be great to renew old acquaintances with them. Alas, my brain has turned to mush!:ugh:

Ahhh . . . Nige . .. . . you'd remember the company that Frank Minjoy and Denis Killen proposed forming, combining their two names - "KILLJOY AVIATION PTY LTD" (My only link there, apart from pestering Arthur Dunn for a job, was working for one of HUPL's subsidiaries, Westernair Navigation at Eagle Farm, Brisbane in '68-'69.)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...y+Regiment.JPG
World Wide Helicopters S-62A as seen at Brunei International Airport in 1966

This aircraft was operated on behalf of the Brunei-Malay Regiment.

They were also flying for Brunei Shell out of Anduki (with S55s as well.) We have several scanned photos but I don't have access at this moment. I do know that the accident rate was one driver towards forming the BSP aviation department in 1967!

Does anybody know what happened to Ken Metcalfe as posted by sillohed in post # 12 and if this was the Ken Metcalfe who was with Bristow in Egypt?

Gerry

Ken Metcalfe
 

Jerry,
In December of 1969 I was flying a DC-3 for Phillips Petroleum when I had the occasion to stop over in Cairo. We stayed at the Cairo Hilton and upon my arrival at the hotel I saw across the lobby by the pool a young man facing the opposite direction with perhaps 5 or 6 young ladies around him. Although I had not seen him since 1963 I immediately thought "Ken Metcalfe" and sure enough it was. I don't remember a Bristow connection but I wouldn't be surprised. Ken was one of my favorite people within the international aviation community. Would love to run him down. Just keep an eye out for someone surrounded by lovely young ladies!:)

That would be Ken Metcalfe. Forever the centre of attention in a social setting. Haven't heard anything about him since I left Egypt.
Thank you kindly for responding.

Gerry

Perchance, did it look anything like this:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1...+Petroleum.JPG
Phillips Petroleum Douglas DC3-C47 N59534

N219F
 

The one I was flying was N219F. When I last saw her she was sitting in the Egyptian desert on 15 October 1969 waiting for an engine change.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u...1978+MALTA.png
Geosource Douglas DC3-C47 N219F, Malta, 1978

Ken Metcalfe
 

Here is a picture of Ken Metcalfe from the World Wide Ameland project in 1963. That's him in the dark sweater and light pants.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/8...7040673e96.jpg

Many thanks for the effort sillohed! That is him. I worked at Ras Shukhier in the early '70s when he was there.

Regards

Gerry

Thanks
 

Thanks Gerry,
I was flying a DC-3 for Phillips out of Alexandria in the late 60's - early 70's so we weren't far apart.

I think there is a picture of the old beast that I was flying a big further up in this thread.

On my last day with the company I had an engine failure out in the Qattara Depression and had to abandon the plane to the engineer and a new pilot. I suppose they weren't too pleased with me.

Ameland, NL 1963
 

The World Wide crew in Nes, Ameland, NL in summer 1963.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/8...cd0699cdf7.jpg

World Wide Crew
 

I've followed this thread with intrest, since my father Frits Hasselman belonged to World Wide, later Abu Dhabi Helicopters. Unfortunately he passed away 11 october 2011....
As a small boy and later in life I've met some of his colleagues, and know some others by name.
He has left quite some photo's which includes the one in Nes.
My mother recalled a number of the people, Rudi Cortenbach (7th from left),
John Wood (on his left), Dick te Groen and Sjors Strolenberg (end of topline), Ted van Capelle (squatting-bottom row left) Dennis Gilman (one but last squatting).
Would you know any of the others?
If you are interested I could post some of the photo's of Libya.

Regards

Jan Wim

Names, names, names
 

Jan,
Thank you for contacting me. As you can see I have had little contact from anyone because we are all much older now and many have passed away. Your fathers name is so familiar to me but I can't quite recall his face or where I knew him.
Here is what I recall regarding the names in the picture....I hope it is accurate.

Left: Not sure
Second Left: Not sure
Third Left Standing Behind: Ken Metcalfe, Helicopter Engineer
Fourth Left: Not Sure
Fifth Left: Not Sure
Sixth Left Standing: Not Sure
Seated by Ball With Hat: My Friend Ted Von Capelle
Seated to Ted's Left: Myself, Ed Stewart
Behind me and to my Right: My friend John Wood
To My Left Squatting: Peit Alofs, Flight Crew (Blasting)
Behind Peit, Standing: Hank Hendry, Helicopter Engineer
Squatting to Peits left: Jan Fens, Flight Crew (Blasting)
Behind Jan, Standing: Harry Dreissen, Project Manager Shell NL
Squatting to Jan's Left: Not Sure
Standing Behind Him: My friend George (sp) Strolenberg

More Nes Crew
 

Here is a another photo of the Ameland crew. More photos at Photo and image hosting, free photo galleries, photo editing

Left: Not Sure
Second Left: Tony Biddle, Engineer
Third Left: Hank Hendry, Chief Engineer
Fourth Left: Ken Metcalfe, Engineer
Fifth Left: Can't Recall, Engineer
Last: Bob Bishop, Engineer
http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps45f04db3.jpg

Pictures, Please!
 

Jan,
Any pictures you care to share will be much appreciated. As you can tell, I posted most of my pictures of Ameland onto "Photobucket.com" so if you have several you could use a site like that.

Many thanks, and look forward to anything you care to share. My personal email is [email protected] if you would like to contact me directly.

I presume you are in Holland.....I still live in the US but in 2000 I took my grandson on a trip which included Ameland. I didn't see much change. The hotel still run by the same family (The Hofkers), the town much the same. The only difference was the sight of the oil rigs off the North shore (which of course we were partly responsible) but now they don't look so good.

Once again......my appreciation.

Hank Hendry became chief engineer of Helicopter Utilities in Sydney & Frank 'the merciless ming' Minjoy, an excellent pilot, became the general manager. Good days in the 60s!

Pictures
 

Thanks Ed,

Never expected such a quick reply, many thanks!
I'll look into the link you've sent for the foto's, as on this forum I seem to have the same problem as Chris (not being allowed to add attachements).

Anyway, we'll find a way to get those pics to you.


Regards,

Jan Wim

Photobucket
 

Made an account at Photobucket jhasselman2's Library | Photobucket and uploaded some pics.
Hopes this works?

Regards,

Jan Wim

engineers
 

I remember Tony Biddle, who lived a few streets away , from us in Tripoly.
His son Christopher was a vriend of mine.
Mike Bishop lived just beond the two piaster beach.

Bishop Biddle
 

Jan, I visited your photobucket site and found it very interesting. Some of the photos are extremely familiar but then everyone was taking so many pictures on the North Sea job that many were probably the same. I never knew Bishop and Biddle came to Libya. I had probably left for some other location by that time perhaps. Were you there when the king was de-throned? I think some of my pictures in Benghazi were taken when rioters were burning cars in the street below the company apartment. Over the years I ran into Ken Metcalfe (one of the other engineers in the photos) in numerous places around the world. I saw him last in Cairo when he was working with Bristow. Thanks for the photos and information. It would be nice if we could find a couple of the other guys but I have searched for most of them by name and came up with nothing.:)

De-throning
 

What I know is that the World Wide Helicopter contact was terminated shortly after the 6 day war between Egypt and Israel. The situation deteriorated and all Westerners had to leave the country. This was in 1967. We (our family) had gone back to Holland just before it all started to escalate. My father however was was held prison for 4 days when he went back to Tripoli, together with a group of non-Libyans. Luckily they were all put on a plane for Europe. During these days the American Air Base Wheeles was surrounded and Italian and Jewish shops set a-light. But the king was still in power, although the people where turing against the West and against him.
Fortunately, just being a boy, it all passed me by. What did I know?
So only fond memories remain of my stay in Libya.

Oh What a Lovely War
 

The riots in Benghazi in 64 were by students at the university and were just the prelude to deposing the king. The British airbase near Benghazi kept things in control until the final collapse in 67 I suppose. Completely unrelated to World Wide, I was flying a DC-3 for Philips petroleum in Alexandria in 69 when yet another fracus with Israel stirred up problems and we had to shut down operations for a while. Did you ever make it to Leptis Magna or over to Cyrene when you were in Libya? Wonderful Roman and Greek ruins. I had pictures but haven't been able to find them.

Leptis Magna
 

We visited Leptis Magna a few times, and also went to Sebrata (which was closer to where we lived). I don't recall Cyrene. My father always took a keen interest in these places and also made photo's. From what I remember the sights where quite spectecular!
I might find some pics for you.